Lagos State
Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday signed into law the anti-kidnapping
bill recently passed by the State House of Assembly, with a pledge to
ensure
its full implementation to eradicate kidnapping once and for all in the State.
The
Prohibition of the Act of Kidnapping Law imposes a penalty of life imprisonment
on kidnapping for ransom. The law also stipulates that where a victim dies in
the course of kidnap, the suspect is liable on conviction to death.
Speaking at
the signing ceremony held at Lagos House in Ikeja, Governor Ambode said the
spate of kidnapping in the State had gotten to a level that required decisive
action from government, hence the need for the enactment of the law to send
serious message to perpetrators of such heinous crime.
He said aside
the enactment of the law, the State Government was also putting in place
appropriate measures particularly in the schools and other vulnerable targets
to prevent kidnapping and other security breaches.
The Governor
said: “Security is of utmost importance to our administration and we are
confident that this law will serve as a deterrent to anybody who may desire to
engage in this wicked act within the boundaries of Lagos.
“Why we use
this law to address the challenge and punish the criminals, we are also putting
in place appropriate measures particularly in our schools and other vulnerable
targets to prevent security breaches and it is important that we ensure that
everything we do in respect of this anti-kidnapping law is in good faith and
good spirit to eradicate the issue of kidnapping once and for all in the
State.”
Governor
Ambode assured that the justice system would be activated to execute the
anti-kidnapping law to the letter to ensure that any criminal caught is
subjected to the full wrath of the law.
The Governor,
at the ceremony, also signed the Sports Trust Fund Bill and the Sports
Commission bill into law, explaining that the laws were enacted to address key
issues bordering on security and effectively harnessing the potentials in the
sports sector.
Giving insight
on the laws, Governor Ambode said: “The Sport Commission Law will give legal
backing to the formulation and implementation of sport policies in the State
while the Sport Trust Fund will enable government to raise money for the
development of sporting facilities and activities.
“This fund
will provide a platform where the State Government can enter into partnership
with the private sector to finance sports infrastructure, tournaments and
programmes which will in turn create employment and generate revenue for the
State.”
He added that
as provided for in the law, a Board of Trustees comprising all stakeholders in
the sports community would soon be inaugurated for the Trust Fund, saying that
with the law, government was restating its commitment to scale up sports
development and make the State the hub of sports in Nigeria.
He also
appreciated members of the Lagos State House of Assembly for their efforts in
the enactment of the laws.
In his
remarks, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa,
said the signing of the bills into law by the Governor was a clear testimony of
the commitment of the State Government to the security of citizens and sports
development.
Obasa, who was
represented by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon Sanai Agunbiade, said it
was particularly gratifying to note that the anti-kidnapping law was an
all-encompassing one which prescribes punishment for the actual actors, those
that collaborate, aid and abet and those who see the act of kidnapping being
perpetrated and do nothing about it, as well as confiscation of properties
attached to the heinous crime of kidnapping.
He said the
passage and signing of the law was a direct response and responsiveness of the
government to the spate of kidnapping in the State, adding that the expansive
provisions in the law would, in no long distant future, ensure the eradication
of the menace in the State.
On the bills
on sports, the Speaker said: “We are happy that Lagos State is taking a very
bold step at ensuring that sporting activities get a boost from the government
and this is a clear demonstration to the people of Lagos State and Nigeria that
the State Government is paying adequate attention to sporting activities.”
SIGNED
HABIB ARUNA
CHIEF PRESS
SECRETARY
FEBRUARY 1,
2017
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